MUScoop

Would he start this year if still at MU?

Not sure, but it is amazing that the three amigos came despite the fact that he was going to have two years of eligibility while they were here. I'm sure that the extra year won't hurt him and I hope that he is doing proper work to graduate after his basketball skills run out. I really can't blame him for transferring when he saw those three guys coming in and the responsibilities that TC asked him to fill after Diener got hurt.

James is All American caliber.  McNeal is a much better defensive player and at least his equal offensively.  Matthews is better defensively, about the same type of rebounder... the only question is offensively.  Matthews has a better outside shot and is a better passer while Mason is better off the dribble than Matthews.

Bottom line is that Mason is maybe better offensively than Matthews, worse than the other two offensively, and worse than all three defensively.  It would have been great to have him still on the team, but then again maybe we wouldn't have Christoperson, or Acker, or Cubillan.  I'll take our situation any day.

Who? ;)   He would get playing time, certainly, and perhaps would provide some stability, but in the end he is not a 3-point threat, not a great defender and would not bring a skill set that this team needs.    I hope he has success, but we don't really miss him.

Quote from: tower912 on November 30, 2006, 06:57:07 AM
Who? ;)   He would get playing time, certainly, and perhaps would provide some stability, but in the end he is not a 3-point threat, not a great defender and would not bring a skill set that this team needs.    I hope he has success, but we don't really miss him.

Actually, Mason was 2 of 3 from 3pt land last night, and is 50% for the year (so far).  That's better shot selection than our guys have been taking - except for Cubillan.

Mason is a much better offensive player than McNeal. In fact, I think Matthews is a better offensive player than McNeal. That said, I'm not sure who he's start over because of Jerel's spectacular defensive ability.

Everyone seems to compare him to the big 3.  He's more similar to Lazar than any other MU player.  I think he'd start at the 4 for some games. (not all)

I haven't watched LSU games, but they are listing him as a "G-F" in box scores - so it sounds like he might be playing the 4 spot a bit there.

Quote from: rocky_warrior on November 30, 2006, 09:09:56 AM

Quote from: tower912 on November 30, 2006, 06:57:07 AM
Who? ;)   He would get playing time, certainly, and perhaps would provide some stability, but in the end he is not a 3-point threat, not a great defender and would not bring a skill set that this team needs.    I hope he has success, but we don't really miss him.

Actually, Mason was 2 of 3 from 3pt land last night, and is 50% for the year (so far).  That's better shot selection than our guys have been taking - except for Cubillan.

Rocky, way to take a Murf-like sample size to make a case.   ;)

Funny...I had that thought when posting it :D

At least I took his entire LSU career into account though!  Not really fair to include his MU stats since it's been a few years....

3-6 isn't a statistically significant sample size?? ;)

Personally, I was never a huge Mason fan..I think he was an athletic kid but simply couldn't put it together. He got a lot of minutes and took a large percentage of our offense's shots...without being much more than an average player. I think the talent/potiential is there, but I did not see how people began labeling him the "next Wade"  going into his sophomore year at MU..big mistake. I do not think Marquette misses him, I think it was difficult for the team's stability and Crean to see a lot of players in that class transfer, but the gaps are now filled.

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Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on November 30, 2006, 09:14:36 AM
In fact, I think Matthews is a better offensive player than McNeal. That said, I'm not sure who he's start over because of Jerel's spectacular defensive ability.

I do not agree with this statement, not that I do not think Wes is an offensive threat. Though Jerel does turn the ball over more than we would like him to and takes some forced shots, the guy is a slasher. I would argue his a better penetrator and finisher than Wes. Wes may have a better "set" shot but Jerel it is apparent, this season especially, that he has a great offensive tenacity and ability. Jerel's intensity and determination on both ends the floor is a driving force behind this team. The guy just works so hard..sometimes I feel that is absent in Wes' game. I think Wes is a great asset to the team and I cannot wait to see him along with the other players continue to develop..

While I liked his offensive game, as a previous post suggested, because of his defense Mason doesn't start IMO.  And that would concern me.  I would wonder how that would affect his attitude and overall demeanor with the team.  I do wish him nothing but the best at LSU.

I think Jerel just edges Mason offensively, one because he can finish from both sides of the bucket, and two because he is more aggresive than Mason was.  Clearly, its not contest defensively from the two of them.  I think if Mason stayed he would have been a super sub last year.  This year is hard to say because I don't know how he would have developed.  Also remember Wesley was injured for a month or two last year....Mason would have taken his minutes and Chapman probably wouldn't have seen as much time as he did.